Tie retaining device

Abstract

A tie retaining device according to the present invention includes a fastener part having a front side and a back side, the front side supporting a pair of opposed, laterally projecting barbs, and the back side including an eyelet. The retaining device also includes a retainer clip having an opening for receiving a button of a shirt to secure the retainer clip to the shirt, and a prong for removably coupling with the eyelet of the fastener part. The fastener part barbs are inserted into the rear, folded back flaps of a tie body to attach the fastener part to the tie. The narrow tie tail is then inserted through an elongated opening in the fastener part. The eyelet on the back side of the fastener part is then threaded onto the prong of the retainer clip. In an alternate embodiment, the retainer clip is replaced by a retainer chain which is attached at one end to the center of a rod, and at the other end to a clasp. The rod is threaded into a shirt button hole to secure the retainer chain to the shirt, and the clasp is coupled to the eyelet to connect the fastener part to the retainer chain.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tie retaining device, comprising: a fastener part having a front side and a back side;   a pair of barbs attached to the front side;   an eyelet attached to the back side; and   a retainer clip including a rear part and a prong for removably coupling with the eyelet, the rear part including a button-receiving opening.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 wherein the button-receiving opening has an inlet portion at a lower end and a closed portion at an upper end, the prong including a first segment adjacent the rear part and a second segment spaced away from the rear part. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 2 wherein the button-receiving opening has a constricting portion between the upper end and the lower end. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 2 wherein the retainer clip is of one-piece construction, the first segment of the prong being disposed adjacent the closed portion of the button-receiving opening, the second segment of the prong being disposed adjacent the inlet portion of the button-receiving opening. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 2 wherein the first segment of the prong includes an out-turned segment which diverges away from the retainer clip back part. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim 1 wherein the barbs extend in opposite directions along the fastener part front side. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim 1 wherein one of the barbs is longer than the other barb. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim 1 wherein the front side is connected to the back side by a pair of end segments, thereby forming an elongated opening. 
     
     
       9. The device of claim 1 wherein the barbs are substantially centered on the front side and the eyelet is substantially centered on the back side. 
     
     
       10. A tie retaining device, comprising: a fastener part having a front side and a back side;   a pair of opposed, laterally projecting barbs attached to the front side;   an eyelet attached to the back side; and   a retainer chain having a clasp on one end for removably coupling with the back side eyelet and a rod on the other end.   
     
     
       11. The device of claim 10 wherein one barb is approximately one-third longer than the other barb. 
     
     
       12. The device of claim 10 wherein the fastener part includes a pair of end segments connecting the front and back sides, the front and back sides and the end segments defining a narrow opening. 
     
     
       13. The device of claim 12 wherein the barbs and the eyelet are substantially centered between the end segments. 
     
     
       14. The device of claim 10 wherein each of the barbs has a first end and a second end, the first ends being connected to one another. 
     
     
       15. The device of claim 14 further comprising an arm connected between the fastener part front side and the first ends of the barbs, thereby supporting the barbs in substantially parallel relationship to the front side. 
     
     
       16. A tie retaining device, comprising: a fastener part having a front side and a back side;   a pair of barbs attached to the front side;   an eyelet attached to the back side;   a retainer clip including a rear part and a prong for removably coupling with the eyelet, the rear part including a button-receiving opening; and   a retainer chain having a clasp on one end for removably coupling with the eyelet and a rod on the other end, the retainer chain and the retainer clip interchangeably providing coupling between the fastener part and a shirt.   
     
     
       17. The device of claim 16 wherein the front side is connected to the back side by a pair of end segments, thereby forming an elongated opening. 
     
     
       18. The device of claim 17 wherein the barbs and the eyelet are substantially centered between the end segments. 
     
     
       19. The device of claim 16 wherein each of the barbs includes a first and a second end, the first ends being connected to one another. 
     
     
       20. The device of claim 19 further comprising an arm connected between the front side and the first ends of the barbs. 
     
     
       21. The device of claim 16 wherein one of the barbs is longer than the other barb. 
     
     
       22. A tie retaining device, comprising: a fastener part for removably connecting to a tie; and   a retainer clip including a rear part and a prong for removably connecting to the fastener part, the rear part including a button receiving opening.   
     
     
       23. The device of claim 22 wherein the button receiving opening has an inlet portion at a lower end and a closed portion at an upper end, the prong including a first segment adjacent the rear part and a second segment spaced away from the rear part. 
     
     
       24. The device of claim 23 wherein the button receiving opening has a constricting portion between the upper end and the lower end. 
     
     
       25. The device of claim 23 wherein the retainer clip is of one piece construction, the first segment of the prong being disposed adjacent the closed portion of the button receiving opening, the second segment of the prong being disposed adjacent the inlet portion of the button receiving opening. 
     
     
       26. The device of claim 23 wherein the first segment of the prong includes an outturned segment which diverges away from the retainer clip rear part. 
     
     
       27. A tie retaining device, comprising: a fastener part for removably connecting to a tie;   a retainer clip including a rear part and a prong for removably connecting to the fastener part, the rear part including a button receiving opening; and   a retainer chain having a clasp on one end for removably connecting to the fastener part and a rod on the other end, the retainer chain and the retainer clip being used interchangeably to connect the fastener part to a shirt.   
     
     
       28. The device of claim 27 wherein the button receiving opening has an inlet portion at a lower end and a closed portion at an upper end, the prong including a first segment adjacent the rear part and a second segment spaced away from the rear part. 
     
     
       29. The device of claim 28 wherein the button receiving opening has a constricting portion between the upper end and the lower end. 
     
     
       30. The device of claim 28 wherein the retainer clip is of one piece construction, the first segment of the prong being disposed adjacent the closed portion of the button receiving opening, the second segment of the prong being disposed adjacent the inlet portion of the button receiving opening. 
     
     
       31. The device of claim 28 wherein the first segment of the prong includes an outturned segment which diverges away from the retainer clip rear part. 
     
     
       32. A tie retaining device, comprising: a fastener part for connecting to a tie; and   a one-piece retainer clip including a rear part for removably connecting to a shirt, the rear part including a button receiving opening having an inlet portion at a lower end and a closed portion at an upper end, and a prong for removably connecting to the fastener part, the prong including a first segment disposed adjacent the closed portion of the button receiving opening and adjacent the rear part, and a second segment spaced away from the rear part and disposed adjacent the inlet portion of the button receiving opening.   
     
     
       33. The device of claim 32 wherein the button receiving opening has a constricting portion between the upper end and the lower end. 
     
     
       34. The device of claim 32 wherein the first segment of the prong includes an outturned segment which diverges away from the retainer clip back part.